PETALING JAYA: Today’s Thailand Masters quarter-finals between Lee Zii Jia and Alwi Farhan of Indonesia promises to be a fascinating contest, with more than just a place in the semi-finals at stake.
For Zii Jia, the match carries added significance as he faces his former coach, Indra Wijaya, who guided him in 2022 before their partnership ended on a sour note after just nine months.
The dispute even reached the labour court before both sides reached an amicable settlement.
Indra now coaches Alwi, who recently clinched the Indonesian Masters title and last year’s SEA Games singles gold.
Alwi, the tournament’s second seed, reached the quarter-finals by defeating Israel’s Daniil Dubovenko 21-14, 21-10, while Zii Jia had to fight back from a game down to beat world No. 60 Mithun Manjunath 11-21, 21-16, 21-12.
“Back in the quarter-finals of a tournament. Another win here at the Thailand Masters 2026,” Team LZJ wrote on social media, referring to Zii Jia’s morale-boosting victory yesterday.
A victory for Zii Jia would see him reach the semi-finals for the first time since the Paris Olympics in August 2024.
Fate was unkind to compatriot Justin Hoh as his run in the tournament ended at the hands of China’s Zhu Xuanchen, 17-21, 22-20, 9-21.
However, the story was different for the women’s singles, as all of Malaysia’s representatives - Wong Ling Ching, K. Letshanaa and Goh Jin Wei – continued their fine form yesterday.
Ling Ching gained a boost of confidence heading into her clash with India’s Isharani Baruah today, after eliminating seventh seed Julie Jakobsen of Denmark 21-18, 21-11.
Letshanaa and Jin Wei have assured a semi-final ticket for Malaysia as they will take on each other.
The former defeated Indian player Shriyanshi Valishetty, 21-17, 20-22, 21-19 while Jin Wei ousted sixth seed Han Qianxi of China 12-21, 21-10, 21-16.
Veteran men’s doubles pair Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub will next face China’s Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi, who eliminated Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing 21-23, 18-21 in the second round yesterday.
Wee Kiong-Azriyn had earlier defeated Taiwan’s Lai Po-yu-Tsai Fu-cheng 21-16, 22-20.
Joining them in the last eight are another professional pair, Chia Weijie-Lwi Sheng Hao, who will take on top seeds Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana of Indonesia.
Weijie-Sheng Hao overcame home favourites Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-14, 15-21, 21-19.
RESULTS
(Malaysians only)
Second round
Men’s singles: Lee Zii Jia bt Mithun Manjunath (Ind) 11-21, 21-16, 21-12; Zhu Xuanchen (Chn) bt Justin Hoh 21-17, 20-22, 21-9.
Men’s doubles: Chia Weijie-Lwi Sheng Hao bt Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (Tha) 21-14, 15-21, 21-19; Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub bt Lai Po-yu-Tsai Fu-cheng (Tpe) 21-16, 22-20; Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi (Chn) bt Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing 23-21, 21-18.
Women’s singles: Wong Ling Ching bt Julie Jakobsen (Den) 21-18, 21-11; K. Letshanaa bt Shriyanshi Valishetty (Ind) 21-17, 20-22, 21-19; Goh Jin Wei bt Han Qianxi (Chn) 12-21, 21-10, 21-16.
